Chris Flory
b. 13 November 1953, New York City, New York, USA. Flory first played guitar as a child. Strongly influenced by such major guitarists as Charlie Christian and Django Reinhardt, he began playing professionally in 1974. Within a few years he had become a regular associate of Scott Hamilton, touring internationally and making records. Although he continued his links with Hamilton throughout the '80s he also played with other jazzmen including Hank Jones, Bob Wilber and Ruby Braff and for four years from 1979 was a regular member of the occasionally reformed Benny Goodman Sextet. He also played with the Goodman big band in 1985 at what proved to be the leader's final public performance. In the late '80s and early '90s Flory appeared on numerous record dates with artists such as Hamilton, Braff, Wilber, Maxine Sullivan and Rosemary Clooney. He also became a familiar and popular figure on the international circuit, sometimes in company and other times as a single. A fluent improvisor and gifted accompanist, Flory's solo work bears traces of his idols but he has steadily become a distinctive and distinguished guitarist in his own right.